I had a car accident and got a whiplash injury to my neck. My doctor told me to stay on bedrest until the pain was completely gone. I'm ready to go back to work now but I still have some pain. Do I really need to wait?

Most experts agree that bed rest is NOT advised for neck pain from a whiplash injury. In fact, activity and exercise are helpful even during the painful phase. Only about one in 100 doctors tells patients to stay home from work until the pain is gone.

Most doctors and chiropractors tell patients to resume as many normal activities as they can during the healing phase. Exercise therapy is often provided by physical therapists. Chiropractors may also recommend acupuncture, traction, and massage therapy.

Let your doctor know you're ready to return to work. If there are no safety concerns, his or her approval is a good idea before resuming normal work activities.